Commutator



A tached tothe cam "UNITED STATES HORACE W. HOWES, OF WALTHAM, MASSAGHU'SLIEIT'IS. t

coMMU'rA'roR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ,May 1e, 1.922.

Application led September 22,1920. Serial No. 411,943.

To (all 'w flo/nt may conce/2111,.'

Be it known that l, Hennen l. Howns, a citizen of the United States, residing at lValtham. in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coninnitatorsof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a commutator for internal combustion engines.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, easily operated and easily adjusted mechanism which can be used in connection with a combustion engine of the well-known Ford type vand which, when so used, locates the rotary and stationary contact members ofthe commutator in a convenient and easily accessible position and also locates them in a position where they are removed from the oil and dirt ordinarily to be found at the end of the cam shaft. y

The object of the invention is further to provide a device of the character hereinbey fore set forth in which the rotary member of the commutator is operated from the cam shaft of the engine and the stationarycom tact members may be adjusted simultaneously bv means of a rod connected to the usual spark control lever.

The `object of the inventionl is further to provide a device of the character set forth in which there is a convenient means for taking up backlash in the gears which oper` ate the rotary contact member of the commutator The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in thev following specification and f particularly pointed out in the claims thereof. Referring to the drawings: o Figure 1 is a front elevation of my'improved commutator showing the same atshaft gear casing cap of a Ford automobile,

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2--2, Figure 1. y

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view'of the rotary and stationary contact members with the cap of the stationary contact member casing re'- moved.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

ln the drawings, 5 is a stationary support constituting a portion of a Ford engine and being adapted to be fastened by screws 6 to the cylinder bloclr of a Ford engine and constituting a cover for the timing gears.

7 is a frame consisting of a hollow body portion 8 with op'positely disposed arms 9 and 10 thereon and with upwardly extending arms 11 and 12 which converge toward each 'other to 'support a bearing 13. Another bearing 14 is provided in said body portion and in the twof bearings 13 and 14 a sleeve 15 is rotatably mounted, said sleeve having fastened thereto-a bushing 16. The sleeve 15 has an arm 17 fast thereto upon which is swivelled a block 18, said block being connected by a rod 19, and other connections, to the spark lever at the top of the steering post in a manner well known to those skilledl in thisart, but not shown in the drawings. A casing 20 preferably composed ofinsulating material and provided witha chamn ber 21 has a hub 22 concentric therewith the internal combustion engine and said contact posts yare connected by `wires in. a well-known manner to the coil units of a magneto.'

A vertically arranged shaft 26 isrotatably mounted in the sleeve 15 and to its upper end is attached a rotary contact meinber consisting of an arm 27 in whichis slid- I ably mounted va contactjmember 28 which is held by a spring '29 in contact with the bottom surface of the chamber 21 in the casing 20,fsaid contact member-28 being concentric with the shaft 26 and adapted to successively engage the stationary contacts 23 when the shaft 26 andthe arm 27 are rotated. lThe shaft 26 isrotated by means of a bevel gear 30 fast `to the lower end thereof and meshing into abevel gear Bl which is fastened to the cam shaft 3 2 of said internal combustion en# gine.

The frame 7.-'is pivoted on a stud 33fast to the stationary 'support 5 andthe arm 9 is provided with a slot- 34 through which' projects a clamping'screw 35 having screwthreaded engagement with the stationary supportl -soithat the frame '7 can be raised and lowered slightly by tipping the same taotniember and whereby one of said gears maybe adjusted relatively to the other.

6. A eommutator for internal combustion and a. gear fast to said horizontal shaft andl meshing into said first-named gear, Whereby one of sald gears may be adjusted relatively to the other.

7. A eommutator for internal combustion Aengines having, in combination, a frame, a

pair of bearings on said framespaeed apart, arms connecting said bearings together, a sleeve rotatably mounted at its opposite ends in said bearings, a shaft rotatably mounted in said sleeve a rotary Contact member fast to said shaft, a plurality of stationary oon-- tact members adapted to be engaged by said rotary contact member spaced apart, mounted upon said sleeve and insulated therefrom,

ymeans to rotate said shaft and an arm fast to said sleeve and projecting outwardly therefrom between said arms whereby said stationary Contact members may be simultaneously adjusted ooneentrioally With said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HORACE W. HOWES.

Witnesses: y

CHARLES S. GooDING, DANIEL A. RoLLiNs. 

